by Peyton Banks
Chapter Thirteen
Dallas stood inside his house with blind rage clamoring to get out.
He’d been gone not even an hour before a call had come in at the station of a woman being kidnapped against her will.
The pit of his stomach dropped out when the address was revealed to be his.
Cops swarmed his quiet neighborhood. His neighbor, Agnes, the nosy old woman who lived across the street, was currently speaking with detectives.
He had yet to move from the foyer. On the floor was evidence that was marked and flagged for the investigation.
What bothered him the most was the sight of Candi’s duffle bag.
She hadn’t trusted that he would have been able to protect her.
From the signs in front of him, she was going to leave.
He clenched his fist tight.
He’d failed again.
I’m not going anywhere.
Candi’s voice echoed in his mind. Her lips had curved up into a small smile. At the time, he’d noticed the smile hadn’t reached her eyes. He had ignored the warnings and assumed it was her being tired.
“I was about to take my dog out for a walk and I saw everything. The way the large man slammed her against the wall, I feared for her life,” Agnes said.
Dallas ground his teeth together.
He ran a hand along his face and turned, stepping out onto the porch. He paused in place, watching Captain Jarvis come to a halt at the bottom of the stairs.
“Sorry to hear about your woman, McNeil. We have the entire force looking for them. Your neighbor’s description of the man who took Ms. Jennings matches the description of her ex-husband.” The captain’s eyes remained on Dallas while he slowly came down the stairs.
“He’s a very dangerous man, Captain,” Dallas growled. At the precinct, Dallas had spoken with the arresting officers at the time. They’d been only too helpful when he’d explained he was working with Candi. They’d agreed that Lamont would go after her.
Apparently, Lamont had made his way up in a very powerful gang and held rank. Him going to prison did nothing but give him a better connection with the gang members serving time. He’d been promoted higher while locked away.
His rap sheet read everything from drug trafficking to bribery and extortion.
Now kidnapping would be included.
Dallas just prayed that murder wouldn’t be added tonight.
There was no telling what Lamont would do to Candi.
“We have SWAT on standby. They are ready to go after him. The FBI should be here soon as well. We will handle this. We’ll bring her home safe.” The captain turned, walking away toward his vehicle.
The front yard was full of investigators and cops. Neighbors lined the street in front of their yards, watching the melee. It was a complete circus.
“Captain,” Dallas called out.
Jarvis paused and spun back to him.
Dallas strode to the captain and stopped inches from him. “There’s no way I can just sit back while someone else searches for Candi. She means something to me, sir.”
Jarvis gave a dry chuckle before sending an ice-cold glare his way. “I offered you a chance to leave patrol. I’ve wanted you to sit for the sergeant’s exam, because I know you are one hell of a man and one hell of a police officer, but you brushed me off, settling to remain where you are. You have much potential to do more with yourself.”
“I know, sir. But I can’t just sit and wait for someone to bring her back to me, and I damn well refuse to sit along the sidelines while someone brings her to me in a fucking body bag.” Arms gripped Dallas and pulled him away from the captain. At the moment, he didn’t care that he was speaking to his superior.
Lamont has Candi.
The longer they stood around, the more time that fucking monster could get his hands on her.
“Easy now, Dallas,” Tanner snapped. He moved between Dallas and Jarvis, pushing Dallas away from the captain.
“Let him go, Tanner,” Jarvis ordered.
Tanner’s head snapped around to the captain. He gave a nod and moved beside Dallas with his eyes on him as if expecting Dallas to explode.
The captain marched forward and returned Dallas’s glare. “So this is what it would take to make you want to do something more with yourself?”
Dallas knew instantly he would do anything to ensure Candi was safe. Once he got her home, they were going to have one hell of a discussion about that damn packed duffle bag.
“Yes, sir,” Dallas bit out. His breaths were coming fast, and his heart raced.
Jarvis studied him. As if satisfied with what he saw, he turned away.
“Sergeant Calloway!” Jarvis barked.
Dallas turned his gaze to the man who broke away from a group of men dressed like him in dark fatigues.
Aaron Calloway.
Dallas had met him before and knew the sergeant was in charge of SWAT.
“Yes, sir,” Calloway greeted the captain.
“Calloway, this is McNeil, the officer we spoke about that I can never get to try out for SWAT. He’s ex-Marine and would make a damn fine addition to the team.”
Dallas leaned forward and took the sergeant’s hand in a crushing grip. They shared a nod before separating.
“The captain always has fine things to say about you, McNeil. Tryouts are coming up—”
“I want you to try him out tonight when you all locate Ms. Jennings and her captor,” Jarvis cut off Calloway.
Calloway’s eyebrows rose high. “But, sir—”
“Ms. Jennings is McNeil’s woman,” Jarvis snapped, cutting Calloway off. “Do I need to say any more?”
Calloway instantly relaxed and shook his head. “No, sir. Enough said. Let’s get you acquainted with the rest of the team, McNeil.”
Tears streamed down Candi’s face. She did nothing to hide them. It may have been a few years, but she knew Lamont. If she tried to act tough, then he’d make it his life’s mission to get a rise out of her. For some reason, he thrived off her pain and sorrow.
Once he’d forced her from Dallas’s home, he’d thrown her in the back of a luxury sedan and got in behind her. His driver had pulled off with the tires screeching.
The air in the car was tense. Impending dread filled her. She watched the scenery fly past, refusing to look in Lamont’s direction.
Her neck was tender from his brutal grip. She swallowed hard and tried to think of something to occupy her mind instead of what Lamont would do to her once they got to their destination.
Images of Dallas came to mind. The memories of him when they’d first met flashed before her. He’d been so gruff and unapproachable, but she’d seen right through his tough-guy façade.
One cup of coffee, and it had grown into something so much more.
She glanced down at her hands clasped together in her lap.
What she wouldn’t give to go back to the other night where they’d lain together in bed with Dallas telling her about his family. When he’d spoke of his brother, Dalton, he’d changed. She’d sensed that he and his brother were close and had a special bond.
She sighed.
She’d probably never see Dallas again.
Hell, she’d be lucky to survive the night.
The car slowed and made a right turn. Her body shifted and slammed into the door beside her.
“Watch those damn turns,” Lamont snapped, righting himself in his seat next to her.
She remained as close as she could to the door. She didn’t want to accidentally touch him.
Hell, she didn’t want to touch him on purpose, let alone by accident.
Her skin crawled at just the thought of him running his hands along her.
The man sitting beside her was no longer the man she’d married.
“I could almost forgive you for ratting me out and sending me to jail,” Lamont began.
Candi turned her attention to him in disbelief. He stared out his window, oblivious to her staring daggers at h
im with her eyes.
Did he really just say that?
“What?” she breathed, unable to believe her ears.
“Filing for divorce while I was locked away was a low blow, Candi,” he continued, apparently ignoring her question.
“You hit me, humiliated me—”
“You are my wife!” he shouted.
“I was your wife,” she screamed, glaring at him. She was stronger than she’d been in the past. No matter what he planned to do with her, she would not back down and be the shy, coy person she once was. “What you did to me wasn’t something a man does to the woman he promised to protect and love.”
He whipped around and grabbed her by her neck.
“You want love? Is that what this is about? Is that what the white cop promised you? Love?” He squeezed her throat again. He brought his face close to hers. “Hasn’t anything in the history of black people taught you anything? White men have always wanted a taste of our black women. You think he’s going to take you home to meet his parents? His family? You were dumb enough to sleep with him, too.” Lamont pushed her away and sat back, glaring at her.
Her hands flew to her neck, and she rubbed the skin that was becoming raw.
She shook her head at her ex-husband’s statement. It wasn’t her who was dumb. It was him. How could he not know that love didn’t care about the color of one’s skin?
It was people like him who helped spread their hate around the world.
“Just let me go, Lamont. You are free to have any woman you want,” she whispered, angrily wiping her tears from her face.
“You think I haven’t already before I went to prison?”
If she still loved him, that would have hurt.
She wasn’t surprised that Lamont had other women on the side in the past. He never did anything to hide them.
The car slowed for a red light. Her gaze went to the handle of the door. There were a few people milling around on the street corner.
She could make a run for it.
There’d be no way that he would drag her back into the car. If he did, she’d be kicking and screaming her head off for help.
Someone would help her.
Wouldn’t they?
She was about to test out if there were good Samaritans in Las Vegas.
The car rolled to a halt. She glanced over at Dallas and found him texting on his phone. Her heart rate increased to where she had a hard time breathing, but she had no choice.
Now.
She grabbed the door handle and pushed with all her might. The door flew open, and she practically threw herself from the car.
“Candi!” Lamont’s angry shout echoed behind her.
She took off running as fast as she could.
“Help me!” she screamed, rushing by the bystanders on the corner of the street. “Please! Call the police!”
Cursing streamed out behind her. She continued sprinting down the sidewalk, looking for somewhere to hide. Feet pounded the pavement after her. She glanced over her shoulder. An angry Lamont gained on her.
Someone would call the police?
Right?
Chapter Fourteen
Dallas had to admit, the feel of having body armor on his form felt damn good. The locker room was buzzing with the team getting prepared to go out. Dallas secured the vest on him. He reached inside his locker and grabbed his Glock. He secured it in his thigh holster.
The men of the Las Vegas SWAT team were welcoming him under the circumstances. This wasn’t normally how a man tried out for the team, but Dallas was grateful for the chance to go with them. He had no problem taking orders from Calloway. It was his team, and Dallas would blend right in with the others.
Dallas didn’t want to think of anything else but getting Candi back.
Every available man and woman on the force was out looking for Candi.
“You’ll be needing this,” Calloway said from behind Dallas.
He turned to find the sergeant holding a MP5. A weapon he actually preferred when he was serving.
“I’m sure you’re familiar with one of these.”
“Intimately,” Dallas murmured, taking the weapon. He slid his hand along it and assessed it. It was in perfect condition.
“I’ve heard about you, McNeil, and what happened to your unit,” a newcomer said, coming to stand beside Calloway. He was tall, muscular with a short buzz cut.
He seemed oddly familiar to Dallas, but he couldn’t place him. Dallas stiffened. He didn’t speak much about his time in the service at work. Who the hell would be gossiping about that?
“McNeil, this is Will Alder.”
Will held out his hand for Dallas who took it in a strong shake. Dallas eyed Will and recognized a warrior when he saw one.
“What branch?” Dallas asked.
“Navy.”
The sound of a phone ringing broke through the air. Dallas immediately reached for his, but it was Calloway’s that was ringing. He walked away to take the call.
Alder stared at him. Dallas wasn’t sure what his deal was. He wasn’t looking for any trouble tonight. He had enough shit to deal with now Candi was missing.
“Ross was my brother,” Adler announced.
Dallas’s breath escaped him as if he’d been punched in the solar plexus. Ross Adler had been on his team.
Dallas hadn’t met his brother.
Ross had told him that his brother was in the Navy. Now that Dallas really looked at the man, he saw the resemblance of his teammate.
“I’m so sorry…” Dallas’s words drifted off. He didn’t really know what to say.
“No need. My baby brother died for his country. He, like all of us, knew the risk every single time we were deployed.” Will stroked his chin. The years of high-stress situations were apparent on the weathered skin. “But my brother spoke highly of you and your leadership. Thank you for everything you did for my brother when he was alive.”
Dallas was too choked up to speak.
Ross and his entire unit had been the best. There was no other group of men Dallas would have rather served with.
“Ross was one hell of a man,” Dallas finally bit out. “And one hell of a Marine.” He held his hand out again to Adler, who took it.
“Briefing room,” Calloway’s sharp voice broke though the air.
Every person froze in place.
“Now.”
Dallas and Adler followed behind the other men to the conference room. Dallas strolled to the back of the room, preferring to stand.
The door shut with Calloway walking to the podium at the front.
“About fifteen minutes ago, twelve calls to emergency services was placed. Each caller spoke to dispatchers claiming a woman matching Candi Jennings’s description running from a car screaming for help.”
Dallas’s blood chilled.
“A man matching one Lamont Jennings’s description was witnessed chasing her down the street and tackling her down to the ground. A few good Samaritans tried to assist, but Mr. Jennings pulled out a weapon on them and took Ms. Jennings hostage.”
The room grew silent with the report of the public violence.
“Was anything captured on video?” someone asked.
“Yes. A few witnesses pulled their phones out and recorded the entire altercation.” Calloway typed some commands on the keyboard, and the television against the wall revealed a grainy shot of the neighborhood.
Dallas refused to look away from the video on the screen.
Candi never stood a chance of outrunning her ex-husband. He was in top physical shape, thanks to prison.
Somewhere he’d be lucky enough to be sent after this.
Lamont had practically run her down like a cheetah chasing after a gazelle.
Gasps went around at the sight of him dragging her kicking and screaming to the car that pulled up on the curb.
Lamont had better hope they didn’t come face to face.
If Dallas had an open shot, he’d be sending the man straight
to Hell where he belonged.
“Where are they now?” another person asked.
“There are good people in this world. A group of men jumped in their car and followed them at a safe distance. We have the location of the house they’re holed up in.”
Grunts and curses went around.
“We have Officer McNeil joining us tonight. The captain would like for him to be tried as a member of SWAT. He comes to us as a highly decorated Marine and a member of our force. I’m sure there won’t be a need for much training.”
All eyes turned to him. Dallas recognized a few of the men and returned a couple of nods.
“All right, SWAT. Let’s roll.”
Candi groaned. She rolled to her side, and her body ached in ways she’d never experienced. She cringed at the memory of her body hitting the ground when Lamont had slammed into her.
He’d dragged her kicking and screaming back inside the car. Her cheek still burned from where he had slapped her to shut her up.
Why he’d chased her, she didn’t know.
She looked around the small room she was locked in. She was on the only piece of furniture. The bed was a twin size, and even with her short stature, it was almost too small for her.
She wrapped an arm around her waist and sat up. Her hair fell around her shoulders in disarray. She was sure she was a sight for sore eyes. Her clothes were damaged beyond repair
Once Lamont had tossed her in the room, she hadn’t seen him. There were no clocks or ways for her to tell how much time had passed.
Her purse and duffle bag had got left back at Dallas’s house.
Dallas.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She was sure he’d found her things left behind. She breathed in deeply, knowing he would come for her.
She just prayed some of those people who had been watching the altercation between her and Lamont had called the police.
Wincing, she stood from the bed and walked over to the window. There were metal bars on the outside of the glass. There would be no escape for her from this route.
The click of the lock sounded behind her. Candi slowly turned around. The door opened, revealing Lamont standing in the threshold.